Craft beers and craft cocktails mean lots of things to numerous people who happily explain that it’s organic, locally-sourced, creatively produced, hand-made, small batch, and quality ingredients. But when you come down to it, the definition of craft beverage is a little variable. There’s always a story behind it, how it was made, how it’s sourced, and why it was created.
” . . . always a story behind it . . . “
High quality craft cocktails are made by skilled and highly praised bartenders. The craft cocktail market is a unique take on a traditional beverage, independently produced in small batches.
Craft wines are also produced in small batches that offer various high quality diverse wines that aren’t produced by large corporate wineries. Craft wines, like beer and liquors, tell a story about the fermentation process, the barrel or vat types, and the area that’s unique to where the grapes are grown.
Buyers who seek out craft wine, beer, liquor, or non-alcoholic drinks are often committed to a certain responsible, sustainable lifestyle, or are acutely aware of the ingredients in the products they buy. In short, an educated market is as passionate about what they consume as the creators of craft products are passionate about making that product.
” . . . passionate about what they consume . . . “
So why focus on craft drinks or support locally made?
Support Local People
When you buy craft you’re supporting a real person who took a leap to follow a dream and build a business they’re passionate about. And unless they’ve been doing it successfully for a long time, that same person likely still has their hands in the everyday business and is tasting each batch to ensure it’s exactly what they envisioned for you. The success of craft makers relies on your happiness and resulting purchases, so creating products and experiences that you’ll love is their main focus. This passion tends to also mean they are highly focused on quality.
” . . . creating products you’ll love . . . “
Get Greater Variety and Unique Flavours.
When people have a true passion for what they’re making, they tend to have more ingenuity; they’re more focused on the exciting end product than the bottom line. Their business challenge is your opportunity to find more innovative flavours and products. The more you support craft the more you help their initial risk to bring you a delicious new taste pay off. This includes things like orange wine, aquavit, sour beers, mead, dry ciders, barrel aged gins, and more. Craft makers are often the first to start making these products, keep supporting these craft innovators so they have the resources to keep creating and bringing you new and exciting products and flavours.
” . . . more focused on the exciting end product . . . “
Get a Real Taste of the Place
When you drink local you get a taste of the place that you’re in. Whether that’s at home or on the road, most craft makers love to showcase the local ingredients and flavours in their drinks. This also means you get access to flavours that you may not normally encounter where you live. Finding these flavours is a big part of why we travel, for drinks and food! Even if you skip the fun flavours, just trying the local beers, wines, and spirits can be a fun adventure to better understand what the locals prefer.
” . . . local ingredients and flavours . . . “
Put Your Money in Local Pockets
When you drink a rum in Montana that’s imported from Puerto Rico, a big chunk of that money goes to retailers, distributors, freight, and more. But when you drink local, and especially if you can drink at the location where it’s made, there’s less people in the chain to get that product from the maker to your glass. Which means more money for the maker to thrive and create more delicious products in the future.
” . . . there’s less people in the chain to get that product from the maker to your glass . . . “
Drink Local as You Travel…Then Take It Home!
When we say drink local, we mean ask about and drink craft products that are made where you currently are. But to be fair, we don’t expect you to only do that all the time. The beauty of discovering local products when you travel is that you can take them home with you or keep an eye out for them when you shop. As long as you’re primarily drinking local and not stocking your entire bar with products shipped halfway around the world, sharing eclectic, global varieties of drinks with friends is a delight. They not only taste delicious, but they’re a nice reminder of your travels and allow you to share your story and experience of how you first discovered it.
” . . . a nice reminder of your travels and to share your story . . . “
So that’s what craft beer and cocktails is all about. It’s about exposing you to the people, places, and stories behind every sip you take, and supporting those local, craft makers so they can keep making amazing drinks you enjoy so much and want to share with others.
Tell us about your favourite local drinks and craft makers in the comments!
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